Administration

JEFFREY E. BUSH, Professor | Director of the School of Music

Jeffrey Bush, Professor and Director of the School of Music, came to James Madison University after administrative and professorial positions at Arizona State University. An internationally known music educator, Jeff’s research interests include community music making, arts leadership, and music education curriculum. Dr. Bush is active as a clinician/workshop presenter and is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences including those sponsored by the College Music Society, International Society for Music Education, Music Educators National Conference In-Service Conference (now known as the National Association for Music Education), National Symposium for Music Instruction Technology, National Orff-Schulwerk Association National Conference, the Greek Society for Music Education, and the International Music Education Research Symposium.

His publication credits include The Journal of Music Teacher Education, Contributions to Music Education, Arts Education Policy Review, Journal of Technology in Music Education, Music Educators Journal, Ostinato, General Music Today, and Percussive Notes. Jeff was also a contributing editor for the series Silver Burdett “Making Music” and is currently a member of the editorial committee of General Music Today.

In terms of professional service, Jeff has held numerous positions with the National Association for Music Education including: President, Western Division, the National Executive Board and National Executive Committee, National Standards Selection Committee, the Society for Music Teacher Education, the Adult and Community Music Education Special Research Interest Group. Dr. Bush has also had leadership roles with various state arts and music organizations in Arizona and Saskatchewan, Canada.

Also well-known as a percussionist, Dr. Bush’s performance credits include numerous professional engagements with orchestras, touring musicals and artists throughout Canada and, more recently, Arizona. Jeff holds a Bachelor’s of Music Education and Master of Music (Performance) degree from Northern Illinois University and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Arizona. Before his tenure at Arizona State University, he taught at the University of Regina and in the public schools of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

CONNIE DRISCOLL, Administrative Assistant, Bands

Connie Driscoll joined the JMU band staff in 1987. She attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Prior to joining the staff at JMU, she was an assistant Underwriter for United Fire and Casualty Insurance Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Supervisor for Warranty Services at Dunham Bush in Harrisonburg, Virginia. For the past 20 years, Connie has played clarinet in the Harrisonburg Rockingham Concert Band where she has served as president, secretary and treasurer. She has also played clarinet in the JMU Concert Band and JMU University Band. Connie has assisted in the planning and organization of the JMU Parade of Champions contest, the Marching Royal Dukes band camp, and the Marching Royal Duke trips to two Presidential Inaugural parades, Macy’s Parade, two Bands of America Grand National Championships, and the European tour. She is a former recipient of the College of Arts and Letters Staff award. This award is given by the College of Arts & Letters in recognition of exemplary service to the University, College and community.

KIMBERLEY JORDANIA , Administrative Assistant

Kimberley Stebbins Jordania holds the position of Administrative Assistant in the School of Music. She received a B.M. from Southern University and a M.M. in Music Education from University of Tennessee. She traveled extensively with her late husband, Conductor Vaktan Jordania, in The Republic of Georgia, Korea and Russia. She managed his recording studio as well as his music business.

Michele Kirkdorffer, Associate Professor of Oboe and Music Admissions Coordinator at James Madison University, received a B.M. and M.M. at the University of Northern Iowa and a D.M.A. at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Dr. Kirkdorffer studied with Sara Lambert Bloom and Thomas Barry and has coached with Robert Bloom, Allan Vogel, Alex Klein, Peter Bowman, Sherry Sylar and John Mack. She has performed with the Roanoke Symphony in Virginia; the Richmond Symphony in Indiana; Louisville Symphony Orchestra in Kentucky; West Virginia Symphony Orchestra; and is an active free-lance musician. Dr. Kirkdorffer has also performed at the Lucca Festival in Lucca, Italy, American Oboist Festival and the Sarasota Music Festival. During the Lincoln Center Mozart Bicentennial Celebration, she performed in Avery Fischer Hall, Alice Tully Hall and the Juilliard Opera Theater. Dr. Kirkdorffer currently performs with the Montpelier Wind Quintet, the resident quintet at James Madison University. This quintet has presented recitals at the Virginia Music Education Association convention, the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, the International Flute Association Convention and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. On numerous occasions Dr. Kirkdorffer has appeared as a soloist with JMU ensembles performing concertos by composers such as; Mozart, Schickele, Bach, Telemann, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Harbison. She performs on soundtracks for The Learning Channel and National Geographic and performed on the 2004 Emmy award-winning soundtrack, Stalking Leopards, composed and produced by David Cottrell of Cottrell-Mangum Music. Dr. Kirkdorffer has performed as a recitalist and presented oboe master classes at the University of Kentucky, East Carolina University, Valdosta State University, the Virginia Music Educators Association convention and the annual JMU Double Reed Day.

WILLIAM POSEY, Director of Concert & Support Services

William G. Posey received his Bachelor of Music Degree from James Madison University, where he served as drill instructor and drum major. Mr. Posey was a clinician for United Music Enterprises, teaching drill, music, drum majors, marching and maneuvering, and leadership classes all across the United States and Canada. He has also served as clinician for Bands of America in both the U.S. and Great Britain. While in England, Mr. Posey served as a marching instructor for one of the top British drum and bugle corps.

Mr. Posey currently directs the University Band, and is Director of the Concert and Support Services for the School of Music. He actively participates as an adjudicator for both marching and concert band festivals. Mr. Posey is a member of the VA Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, and the North American Brass Band Association. Mr. Posey serves as Director of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Concert Band and he performs as a member of the Massanutten Brass Band and Just Jazzin’

JUDY SAGER, Administrative Assistant

Judy Sager is a Rockingham County native, born and raised in the Broadway area, and a graduate of Broadway High School. Before coming to the School of Music in 2008, she held the office of Virginia Deputy Commissioner of Revenue for 11 years. Former work experience includes 16 years in the JMU admissions office, Administrative Assistant in the Dean's Office for College of Integrated Science at JMU and Admissions Officer at Bridgewater College. She resides with her family in the Broadway area.

MARY JEAN SPEARE, Associate Professor | Director of Graduate Studies | Associate Director of the School of Music

A native of New Mexico, Dr. Mary Jean Speare received a B. M. summa cum laude from Eastern New Mexico University in piano performance, an MM in piano performance from Southern Methodist University, and a Ph. D. in Musicology from Washington University in St. Louis with a dissertation on “The Transformation of Opéra Comique: 1850-1880.” Before coming to James Madison University, she held one-year positions at Baylor University and the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. She has given papers at international conferences in Prague, Belgium and Dublin, and at the national convention of the American Musicological Society. Her publications include articles on various aspects of nineteenth-century French opera.

DONNA WAMPLER, Administrative Assistant

Donna Wampler holds the position of Program Support Technician in the School of Music office. Her love of music began with her mother who was a piano teacher in the Washington DC area. She enjoys accompanying and is the Minister of Music for Cross Roads Baptist Church. She has been involved with Eastern Mennonite University’s Preparatory program with her four children for the past 12 years and is active in the Arts. Her previous work experience includes accounting as well as preschool and elementary education. She plans to complete a bachelor’s degree from JMU.
Email: wampledk@jmu.eduOffice: 540.568.6863